tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49144187541532778452024-02-19T23:58:19.742-05:00Emoly's spaceEveryone has a story. This is mine. This is my place to share my thoughts, random insights, and photos (if I remember).Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.comBlogger1246125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-60613340129483555392015-12-03T13:33:00.000-05:002015-12-11T10:03:06.532-05:00The dog that shall not be namedOn Sunday morning, Bill went out to start the car to let it warm up. While he was out there, he saw a dog under the neighbor's truck. Bill looked at the dog and the dog looked at Bill, and the dog growled. Bill told the dog, "It's okay, I don't want anything to do with you". Then the dog took a few steps closer.<br />
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Bill looked at the dog and the dog looked at Bill, and the dog growled again. Bill told the dog, "It's okay, I don't want anything to do with you". Then the dog took a few steps closer.<br />
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Once again, Bill looked at the dog and the dog looked at Bill, and the dog growled again. Bill repeated, "It's okay, I don't want anything to do with you". Then the dog took a few steps closer.<br />
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I should stop here and say that Bill loves animals and has been begging for a dog for a few years now. I don't mind dogs, but our cats are not fond of dogs. If we get a dog, I would prefer only having a dog and not having any cats. So, at this time in our lives, I do not want a dog. Not to mention that you can't just leave a dog for a weekend like you can cats.<br />
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I would also like to point out that as a child, Bill was bitten by a dog. Severely enough that he had to have stitches. As a result, Bill is a little hesitant around growling dogs (as everyone should be).<br />
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Back to the growling dog on the street, by this time Bill realized the dog was just a puppy and was cold and scared. The dog did not have a collar. Bill talked to the dog and reassured the dog. Then Bill noticed how skinny the dog was. Bill decided he should at least try to give the dog some water. When Bill came in to get the water, I looked out the window (in time to see the dog putting its paws on Bill's car) to check to see if I recognized the dog. I did not. When Bill took the water out to the dog, the dog came up to the house. It was very clear that this dog was hungry, cold, and scared.<br />
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Bill and I had a quick conversation, in which we agreed the dog should at least come inside to be warm while we looked for his owner.<br />
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We posted the dog's picture on each of our Facebook pages, on our local neighborhood FB pages, the GR Police FB page, and on "For the Love of Louie" FB page (for lost & found dogs). Friends reposted the dog's picture. We were sure if someone was looking for this sweet puppy, we would connect with them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9bj7LdIiv1zuO9LAZrB5X6smgTZuWlA2doFswLYDRAk-oEM9gy9wuHY9Hz4Wsd6CNP3EIqWxS9PYBQdA7qzJt7iJU5Y2Qe7Nyc5-25vA8LmLcdMq9C0D1jcDHP-QSKELO2T85OyVYm70/s1600/IMG_1313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9bj7LdIiv1zuO9LAZrB5X6smgTZuWlA2doFswLYDRAk-oEM9gy9wuHY9Hz4Wsd6CNP3EIqWxS9PYBQdA7qzJt7iJU5Y2Qe7Nyc5-25vA8LmLcdMq9C0D1jcDHP-QSKELO2T85OyVYm70/s320/IMG_1313.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Bill walked the dog up and down our street, two other streets, to the mailbox, to the store, and back. We asked our neighbors who have dogs if they recognized him from the park. No one had ever seen this dog before.<br />
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By Sunday evening, we started to realize that perhaps no one was going to claim this dog. Bill had taken Dog (that's what we started calling him) to the animal hospital where they checked for a microchip (he was not chipped).<br />
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While Dog is very sweet, and very cute, the cats weren't having any of it. They were self-quarentined to our bedroom. Atticus was angry with Bill (so much so that when we went to bed that night and Bill tried to pet Atticus, Atticus turned around, jumped off the bed, and hid under it all night). Bill stacked up three Christmas totes on the stairs to keep Dog downstairs (the first attempt used two totes, but Dog is very athletic and jumped right over those).<br />
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We both knew we couldn't keep Dog. We just weren't prepared to have a dog, let alone another pet in the house.<br />
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On Monday morning, I made a flyer to hang in the break-room. I couldn't remember if I needed permission to hang it, and I could have waited until Melanie arrived to ask her. Instead, I had a nudge to go ask Sara. There are several other people I could have asked, but Sara kept coming to mind. So I took my poster down to Sara's office and held it up. I asked if I needed permission to hang it and she said, "No. That's a really cute dog. We're thinking of getting a dog."<br />
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That was my cue to sit down and tell her how we came about housing Dog and why we couldn't keep him and how sweet he is. I didn't hide the fact that he would need to be neutered. She said she would have to talk to her husband and in the meantime I could hang the flyer in the break room. I also told her I would send her the pictures of Dog so she could send them to her husband.<br />
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About an hour later, Sara stopped by my desk. She asked if it would be possible if she could bring her family over to meet Dog later that night? I asked her if I should take down the flyer and she said yes.<br />
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When I got home, I took Dog with me on my run. He showed me how not-in-shape I am. He is fast. I am slow. He is very well-behaved though; he didn't stop to smell every tree. He did try to drag me along to chase a squirrel, but fortunately I saw the squirrel and held my footing.<br />
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That night, Dog met his new family. He warmed up to Sara first, then her kids. Since Dog had become pretty attached to Bill, Dog took a little longer to warm up to Daniel (Sara's husband). But pretty soon, "Can we keep him, please?" came out of the mouths of the children, who were sitting in front of our [half-decorated] Christmas tree.<br />
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It was a scene straight out of a Christmas movie.<br />
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Sara and her family collected the dog food, dog biscuit, rawhide, and leash and Dog followed them, happily out of house and into theirs. He hopped right into their car. He never looked back.<br />
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That is the story of the dog that shall not be named who is now called Kipper.<br />
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And also how I may, in the future after our cats have used up their nine lives, think about the possibility of getting a dog.<br />
<br />Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-25011909888837359912015-10-29T11:04:00.002-04:002015-10-29T11:04:43.179-04:00But wait, there's more!I know. It has been a long time since I blogged. Time flies, it was summer, I've been busy.<br />
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All three are true. But it's the last excuse that I'm sticking with and I'll explain why.<br />
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Some of you know we had an exciting day last winter when our pipes not only froze, but the pipe to the half bath toilet finally burst. While there was no major damage, unless you count the mice that were out a warm comfy home and a very happy cat, we did decide it was high time we replaced the original plumbing in our almost-one hundred year-old house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24IN3mAYOF4843VFHtnxHZrJ97diDZDyUijs8PtnYTOODehPRIRDC1F8aChbiiVS_azWrRGKw8lNvBZpEPyGyG_5Oesjxnime5AKY74oANgd4bjQHbkPrwBswsIQaPCtgqdeopXHyvK5E/s1600/IMG_1015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24IN3mAYOF4843VFHtnxHZrJ97diDZDyUijs8PtnYTOODehPRIRDC1F8aChbiiVS_azWrRGKw8lNvBZpEPyGyG_5Oesjxnime5AKY74oANgd4bjQHbkPrwBswsIQaPCtgqdeopXHyvK5E/s320/IMG_1015.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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(This photo is not the result of the burst pipe, this was the "during" photo)</div>
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That happened in May. The plumbers came in and not only put in new pipes from the city main all throughout our house, but they did the gas lines too! It was a thing of beauty. Bill and I ooh-ed and aah-ed. If you are a home-owner, you may understand our awe. The best part was that the plumbers were able to go through the kitchen ceiling. Bill and I agreed that was better than the alternative of going through the bathroom floor.<br />
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However, that meant we would have to replace the ceiling in the kitchen. But that was still a good thing because we had a drop ceiling that was covering damaged plaster.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw6NR2sMaNbJHKSoHNrWoMfZ9tKb52VA-SYqgcuL-hBBhxU2PAMwKI5_My2RV546yb9BgjGycWEP2V20cW-b4sq1T6S_oCHnnkBeOs5f22kCcMM1KKJLhXDCSCxo46V7WXorYgAJ61p2p/s1600/IMG_1019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw6NR2sMaNbJHKSoHNrWoMfZ9tKb52VA-SYqgcuL-hBBhxU2PAMwKI5_My2RV546yb9BgjGycWEP2V20cW-b4sq1T6S_oCHnnkBeOs5f22kCcMM1KKJLhXDCSCxo46V7WXorYgAJ61p2p/s320/IMG_1019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(This is a close-up of the plumbing, I told you, I took a lot of photos.)</div>
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It was then that we realized we had a minor electrical snag. As in the electrical on the second floor had been updated, but the first floor had not. So we called an electrician who got us on the calendar for the beginning of August.<br />
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And so we waited.<br />
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We took down the rest of the plaster ceiling while we waited.<br />
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Eventually August arrived and so did the electrician. It took him a week (and a half) but he finally got us rewired.<br />
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Then the fun began.<br />
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First, we had a bat that made a bad decision. We both still have a little PTSD over it, so ask us about it and you'll hear a very animated, entirely 100% true version of the night of the bat invasion and how we removed it safely from our home.<br />
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Over Labor Day weekend, we borrowed a friend's pick-up truck, bought new drywall and all the other supplies we would need (except we didn't because who, during any home project no matter how extensive a list you make, purchases everything you need on the first trip), and went home and hung (hanged?) a brand-new drywall ceiling in our 8'-6" first floor. This is three inches taller than before when we had the drop ceiling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6-fcUtlXxJzxdAMQz1TLfkAOXHTJdCMB4LJ3NSmIzWuyPbIGCCccGYJUoFVAJ4KBJVJeUmPqWDk9H-RNCOTK03tbc9n6edwQn_d50dQAQKID9gf35QCkZGHeyA3ChNzyz4UfVobq6hGe/s1600/IMG_1184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6-fcUtlXxJzxdAMQz1TLfkAOXHTJdCMB4LJ3NSmIzWuyPbIGCCccGYJUoFVAJ4KBJVJeUmPqWDk9H-RNCOTK03tbc9n6edwQn_d50dQAQKID9gf35QCkZGHeyA3ChNzyz4UfVobq6hGe/s320/IMG_1184.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
And then we went back to the store to buy a few extra things.<br />
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The following day was full of taping, mudding, and patching.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7Y3ETijonSwzKCVw2EkY_ah8iQ7bUALWJQrkme4OYLxrSilwr6ql9a5u7Nku0ICwm8JEogNrwRzlW-eOa0q3gECFsC4tK9Xc5hFa3RpvWeQV-nhH7Gg5Xb_eFZsRukl3NJTWkRb9eZm1/s1600/IMG_1185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7Y3ETijonSwzKCVw2EkY_ah8iQ7bUALWJQrkme4OYLxrSilwr6ql9a5u7Nku0ICwm8JEogNrwRzlW-eOa0q3gECFsC4tK9Xc5hFa3RpvWeQV-nhH7Gg5Xb_eFZsRukl3NJTWkRb9eZm1/s320/IMG_1185.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Followed by sanding and more mudding, and more patching.<br />
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Followed by sanding.<br />
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Then came time to paint. First the ceiling, then the walls.<br />
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Bill had to go out of town, so we had planned it out that the ceiling would be ready for paint before he left. I was able to prime it and paint it while he was gone. When he returned, we picked out the wall color and painted the town red. Oh no, wait. We didn't paint it red, but we did get the walls painted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBTgTkJqNOvJBNJdKMqGOGyMSogCRGJgDg4B6InSnTHjHBxbRi8p0hp7YmUDZuqKQwJEORApZ3cPcYP89vqMBKfs5Tl6WoH7szi4cB63Y4tJ6ymtvw-h3ZaO8RJzSjOHQYquIJxhDyhFQ/s1600/IMG_1197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBTgTkJqNOvJBNJdKMqGOGyMSogCRGJgDg4B6InSnTHjHBxbRi8p0hp7YmUDZuqKQwJEORApZ3cPcYP89vqMBKfs5Tl6WoH7szi4cB63Y4tJ6ymtvw-h3ZaO8RJzSjOHQYquIJxhDyhFQ/s320/IMG_1197.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here's the ceiling.</div>
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Here's a taste of the wall color.</div>
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We had been discussing what to do with the floors. They're hardwood throughout the first floor, but in the kitchen there have been a few poorly done patch jobs. Not to mention the finish was completely worn off in several spots. If we refinished the wood, it would have to be the entire first floor because just doing the kitchen wouldn't be right. But since we have a future goal of re-doing the kitchen (new cabinets, new layout, etc), we decided to do this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKPo8AeHw3RbVx6gJydvgxuBssW7b5WoiV1CheGcba6qFb-y4Zxyba9aliOp-H2LOP0MrU7sLzHRGj4KR1HDj8S4Vc_-DWuTHfBM1Rt0ONo8flxCByX0_8O9hRFldhZHHydfzPB4Tv3dO/s1600/IMG_1214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKPo8AeHw3RbVx6gJydvgxuBssW7b5WoiV1CheGcba6qFb-y4Zxyba9aliOp-H2LOP0MrU7sLzHRGj4KR1HDj8S4Vc_-DWuTHfBM1Rt0ONo8flxCByX0_8O9hRFldhZHHydfzPB4Tv3dO/s320/IMG_1214.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
To achieve this look, first we primed, then painted the floor white.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wjWxYqjpWxZOs9bE3YW-v-A0B_2pMR7rRN6OaqSIuTnq38MZvzdWK7qpIuJssc2sFX_ILnC4gdT2E0prj5yXvxVLfV8srzMxoTDIVgEmDxLjTYW4GJ2OxFjAZ6nfeFjRdbR-8lQZgf98/s1600/IMG_1210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wjWxYqjpWxZOs9bE3YW-v-A0B_2pMR7rRN6OaqSIuTnq38MZvzdWK7qpIuJssc2sFX_ILnC4gdT2E0prj5yXvxVLfV8srzMxoTDIVgEmDxLjTYW4GJ2OxFjAZ6nfeFjRdbR-8lQZgf98/s320/IMG_1210.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Then I measured and taped off squares, like this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaGBj1iGAOIJbNGOl5AvLHkKKdLUTLQ2qEoYOUTvZRUMZEzIN4mgwmD2K3qfScqK2lVvTVVKizAm7yi6AVI_dgZy3jXhDE3dtVGOmTrdlRsC-molVxRVLhhILLL4QwjUscTtI2Jrn0a99/s1600/IMG_1213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaGBj1iGAOIJbNGOl5AvLHkKKdLUTLQ2qEoYOUTvZRUMZEzIN4mgwmD2K3qfScqK2lVvTVVKizAm7yi6AVI_dgZy3jXhDE3dtVGOmTrdlRsC-molVxRVLhhILLL4QwjUscTtI2Jrn0a99/s320/IMG_1213.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then, on went the black paint and we have a very mid-century retro kitchen floor. My knees are finally recovering.<br />
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But wait, shouldn't we do something with the cabinet hardware?<br />
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That meant another trip to the store to buy some black paint. Bill removed and sanded thirty-some (he knows the exact number) hinges, plus handles, and all the screws to the cabinets. I know, for such a small kitchen, it sure seemed like a lot.<br />
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The final results look like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tP32YwBp2ii-wloIZPbsBky0ge__g3b2SNDcoKnmWW2E0MzYONsEMiG8_YeaG_Eu0dYi4Uuz-Hg7-sDTQnPDZI88AidGMlIjUjbtCfYYP8SHOVseorg5W7LsmRDovwDGYtpjukRhQsCf/s1600/IMG_1266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tP32YwBp2ii-wloIZPbsBky0ge__g3b2SNDcoKnmWW2E0MzYONsEMiG8_YeaG_Eu0dYi4Uuz-Hg7-sDTQnPDZI88AidGMlIjUjbtCfYYP8SHOVseorg5W7LsmRDovwDGYtpjukRhQsCf/s320/IMG_1266.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And for a closer view of the new curtains...</div>
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They fit the retro feeling we're going for. I need to do some tweaking with the knick-knacks (the heart hanging from the window in this picture doesn't exactly "go" with the modern look), besides the little details, we are enjoying it.<br />
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<br />Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-64313563612811240692015-04-05T22:59:00.000-04:002015-04-05T22:59:06.407-04:00GoThe time has come for us to <i>go</i> out and bring peace to everyone.<br />
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Where you <i>go</i> and what you do is your choice. But in order to make the world a better place, wouldn't it be nice if we each took the time to share peace? And not just share it with those we know and love, but to share peace with those we don't know.<br />
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It's not always easy. In fact, most days it's a pretty big challenge for the average person, but we have to try. We have to <i>go</i> and do. Sitting here, complacent, will do nothing and things will continue to degrade.<br />
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<i>Go</i> is my benediction for this journey. It's not the end, it's the sending forth with a mission. <i>Go</i> and reach out to help each other. <i>Go</i> and love one another. <i>Go</i> back and read each word from the last forty days and insert it after, "<i>go</i>…"<br />
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<i>Go</i> on, what are you waiting for?Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-14340677590063536072015-04-04T22:58:00.000-04:002015-04-04T22:58:03.859-04:00RefugeFor me, going to my parents house is a <i>refuge</i>.<div>
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Until we play euchre. Then it's more like a stronghold.</div>
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Going back home to our house is also a <i>refuge</i>.</div>
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Our church is another place of <i>refuge</i>.</div>
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Campgrounds are always a place of <i>refuge</i>. The only exception is the one down in southern Indiana that used to be part of a mental facility. The large living quarters were still there and it was creepy. That place was not a <i>refuge</i> for me.</div>
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Where do you find <i>refuge</i>?</div>
Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-76068106391207095212015-04-03T22:44:00.000-04:002015-04-03T22:44:35.072-04:00ProsperI suppose writing this blog should help me <i>prosper</i> in many ways.<br />
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Perhaps make me a better writer.<br />
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Or teach me patience.<br />
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I could make money and <i>prosper</i> through advertising. Perhaps that would help my blog viewership <i>prosper</i> too.<br />
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How much do we <i>prosper</i> in our lives? What is worth living for?<br />
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I know that I look for joy, finding ways to help others to the best of my ability. That is how I look to <i>prosper</i>.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-57213849409612590512015-04-02T21:39:00.001-04:002015-04-02T21:39:37.620-04:00BreathThe only way I remember the difference between <i>breath</i> and breathe is mostly due to my favorite band, Needtobreathe. Thanks to their name, I only have to think about how they spell it and I know whether or not I am trying to spell <i>breath</i> or breathe.<br />
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As far as Lent and this challenge, I'm not sure why <i>breath</i> is the word.<br />
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Is it a little strange that I'm just now questioning who came up with these words and why they chose these words? We're not to Good Friday yet. Jesus has not taken his last <i>breath</i>. He's still breathing. In fact, he's about to share a Passover meal with his Disciples.<br />
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Which makes me wonder how bad their <i>breath</i> must have been. We've come a long way and I'm happy to celebrate mouth wash and good dental hygiene.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-58099069990369181282015-04-01T22:00:00.002-04:002015-04-01T22:00:51.753-04:00PeaceIt's been awhile since I wrote a haiku, so what better time to share one? Here you go, enjoy.<br />
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I sit in silence.<br />
<i>Peace</i> and quiet surround me.<br />
<i>Peace</i> I share with you.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-2121204265466849762015-03-31T21:42:00.001-04:002015-03-31T21:42:09.111-04:00CallBeing a child of the 80s, of course the first thing that comes to mind is,<br />
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"Who you gonna <i>call</i>? GHOSTBUSTERS!"<br />
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But since this blog is currently about Lent, I should focus on God's <i>call</i>. Or when I <i>call</i> out to our Almighty Creator.<br />
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Yes, I have heard God <i>call</i> me. I ignored the <i>call</i>.<br />
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Wouldn't it be nice if it were as obvious as a phone <i>call</i>? A ringing bell, or some kind of sound that we couldn't miss. Instead, God's voice can be small and quiet.<br />
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The<i> call</i> I received was repetitive. Some people hear their <i>call</i> through another's voice. I heard God calling me, and then listened to several people tell me to answer the <i>call</i>. Finally I listened.<br />
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Did you know that I can be stubborn?<br />
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Of course, so were several (all?) of the Disciples. And Moses, he tried to back out a couple of times.<br />
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Warning: I'm about to flash-back to the 80s again.<br />
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It's sort of like Arnold saying, "What'chu talking' 'bout Willis?"<br />
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What are you sayin' God?<br />
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Okay, insert a ridiculous amount of movie quotes, you get the gist.<br />
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Me? Are you talkin' to me?<br />
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That's it, I'll quit while I'm ahead.<br />
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Sometimes we have to stop, focus, and listen to hear God's <i>call</i>. Other times, it's a loud gong. Either way, are you listening?Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-66526695443237344372015-03-30T21:05:00.000-04:002015-03-30T21:05:14.177-04:00LiveThis Lenten journey has been side-tracked by the death of my grandmother. She lived a good, long life. Ninety-four years old says so.<br />
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Forgive me for being distracted when the words for this journey are like today's word, <i>live</i>. During the funeral today, the pastor said that Grandma will continue to <i>live</i> both through each of her family members and in eternal life.<br />
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Isn't that what we all hope for? To be remembered for how we lived and what we passed on to those who knew us.<br />
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Grandma will continue to <i>live</i> in me through her faith, her love of gardening, and her propensity of writing in a journal every day. I have a strong faith, a love of gardening, and a propensity to write in my journal every day for the last several years.<br />
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Bill was a little unnerved as he listened to the pastor describe me in my grandmother.<br />
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What can I say? It's in my genes.<br />
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And I say, <i>live</i> life to it's fullest. For me, that's spending time in my garden, writing, and sharing my faith.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-50496072987457320912015-03-29T19:19:00.000-04:002015-03-29T19:19:36.634-04:00CelebrateToday, I will <i>celebrate</i> that this is the last time I will write about the word <i>celebrate</i>.<br />
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I will <i>celebrate</i> that there is one week left of Lent. We will <i>celebrate</i> Easter next week.<br />
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We had our Palm Sunday Brunch and Youth Auction this morning. People were excited to <i>celebrate</i> winning baked goodies and lots of other fun items.<br />
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We are watching Formula 1 racing again, which for us is reason to <i>celebrate. </i><br />
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MSU is in the Final Four, if you're a fan, that's a good reason to <i>celebrate.</i><br />
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The weather is still cold, so we're having a fire in the fireplace to <i>celebrate.</i><br />
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Wait, that's not right. We're not celebrating the cold weather. We are ready for it to warm back up to average temperatures. Then we can <i>celebrate.</i>Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-49435470364510969972015-03-28T21:05:00.000-04:002015-03-28T21:05:52.802-04:00See<i>See</i> what I've been making in the kitchen?<br />
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First, I nuked some Peeps in the microwave. Then I used them to make krispy treats which I'm calling...<br />
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...Krispy Peep Treats. I layered them in a pan. You can <i>see</i> the layers in the photo above. Once they had cooled, I cut them into bars and put them in baskets with dyed coconut and not nuked Peeps.<br />
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I also baked Emily's Best-Ever Oatmeal cookies. I'm known for them. By five people.<br />
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I also made my Famous Brownies, aka Amazing Brownies. The same five people call them by their proper names.<br />
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I also made seven layer bars. Which, if I count, are really only six layers. I guess they're technically seven layers because you melt the butter and pour the graham crackers over that. <i>See</i> how that works?<br />
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These are all things for the Youth Auction being held at our church tomorrow. I also made a coupon book, but I forgot to take a picture.<br />
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Tomorrow is also the Palm Sunday Brunch. There will be pancakes, sausage, and eggs. Yum! I hope to <i>see</i> you there.<br />
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<br />Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-73550253056850593022015-03-28T09:30:00.000-04:002015-03-28T09:30:15.300-04:00MeditateYes, I was too busy meditating yesterday to write about <i>meditate</i>.<br />
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That's sort of true.<br />
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When I got home from work, I worked out (I ran a mile without stopping). By the time I finished my workout, Bill was home.<br />
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We went to dinner and the theater.<br />
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It was a high school production of "Curtains". It was very funny. We enjoyed the show, even though we got home way past our bedtime.<br />
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So it was as I was lying there, almost asleep that I realized I didn't blog.<br />
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I'm a week away from the end of Lent. Only missing one day ain't half bad. That's a 2% error (or however you want to look at it).<br />
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Excuse me, now I have to go write today's post before I forget or get too busy.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-48700172514477209902015-03-26T22:11:00.000-04:002015-03-26T22:11:02.006-04:00SeekGrandma turned 94 years old yesterday. Since last Friday she had not been eating anything. She had a TIA prior to that. Since last summer she had been living with my aunt. This was because she had gone outside to enjoy fresh air and decided to start weeding. She ended up on the ground and couldn't get back up. She crawled back to the house and was able to call for help. That was not the first time that had happened, so the decision was made for her to stay with my aunt.<br />
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Grandma passed away in the early morning hours today.<br />
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I do not need to <i>seek</i> anything at this moment. I am at peace for many reasons. Mostly because she lived a good, long life. I cannot recall a time that she ever complained about anything or anyone. She was generous and, like any good grandma, always had something ready to eat. She was independent and wise.<br />
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Unfortunately, I did not get any patience from her. She was very patient. I remember her raising her voice once to one of my cousins (and he deserved it). I remember how calm and collected she was when my grandpa died.<br />
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I do think I learned a lot about faith from her. Not in a Bible preaching sort of way, but through letters while I was in college and how much she volunteered in the church.<br />
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She was the matriarch of a large family. She was a great-great grandmother to several kids. She will be missed, but I know that there is much rejoicing among her family who has been waiting for her.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-84025868003992349312015-03-25T21:05:00.001-04:002015-03-25T21:05:18.789-04:00TruthThe <i>truth</i> will set you free.<br />
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Unless someone is asking you if that [insert piece of clothing] makes them look fat.<br />
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Which means the <i>truth</i> will set you free from their friendship if the <i>truth</i> is yes.<br />
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Yikes.<br />
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If I were you I would say no. Telling the <i>truth</i> is for everything else except questions like that. Can we all agree?<br />
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Thanks.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-6570952401137606682015-03-24T21:39:00.000-04:002015-03-24T21:39:28.459-04:00MercyOne of my favorite verses is from Micah 6:8<br />
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"<i>He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.</i><br />
<i> And what does the Lord require of you?</i><br />
<i>To act justly and to love mercy</i><br />
<i> and to walk humbly with your God</i>."<br />
-New International Version (NIV)<br />
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I had to search different versions to find the one that uses the word <i>mercy </i>instead of kindness<i>.</i> Obviously either word will do but for today <i>mercy</i> is what I'm writing about.<br />
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I first remember hearing this verse when we lived in New Jersey. Pastor Greg preached on the verse. Then, I heard it again here in Grand Rapids when Pastor Jennie preached on it.<br />
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Pair this with what Jesus said is the greatest commandment and I bet things would be different. People would be different.<br />
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This goes right along with the book study I've been participating in, "Whose Gospel?" by Dr. James Forbes. I wrote about his visit and his visionary, or progressive, teachings.<br />
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This last Sunday we were challenged by Pastor Bob to reach outside our comfort zone. When we are comfortable we are not changing. When we're not changing things aren't getting worse, but neither are they getting better.<br />
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It's uncomfortable to ask someone what's their name. It's uncomfortable to offer someone your umbrella when it's pouring down rain. It's uncomfortable to invite someone to church. It's uncomfortable to sit next to someone you don't know.<br />
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And we've gotten use to being comfortable.<br />
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We show kindness, or <i>mercy</i>, to those around us when we treat them as we would want to be treated. Do you want to be ignored? No, I hope not. Don't you want to know that person's story? Even if they talk your ear off, maybe they just needed someone to listen. Or maybe they talk everyone's ear off; show them <i>mercy</i> and listen.<br />
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We are too ego-centric. We are too self-centered. We care about ourselves and our comfort too much.<br />
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This verse reminds me right at the beginning my flaw. "O mortal", it says. Oh, right, I'm reminded of my limited time on earth. I start to ask; what matters here, the sweater I'm wearing? How many pairs of pants I have hanging in my closet?<br />
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Or does the "pay-it-forward" mentality mean more? Sharing with someone in need, not want. Cooking a meal out of love? The immortal and intangible things we share matter more then the materialistic and consumeristic things that just take up space.<br />
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We are call to show <i>mercy</i> to others and show <i>mercy</i> to our planet.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-67316091517992075342015-03-23T21:49:00.002-04:002015-03-23T21:49:56.289-04:00ForgiveLast week on, "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" they were talking about cats. They said cats don't <i>forgive</i>. Paula Poundstone begged to differ and offered an example of her own cat.<br />
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I completely agree with Paula Poundstone. Our cats <i>forgive</i> us. I've stepped on Atticus' tail, he forgives me by sticking his wet nose in my face.<br />
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Yesterday, I sat on Juliette! She has forgiven me, because she's sitting next to me right now (not to mention that she came right back and sat on my lap after I tried sitting on hers).<br />
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We have started shutting the cats out of the bedroom at night to prevent any more mice incidents as well as giving ourselves a good nights sleep. If you have a pet (and you've let them into the bedroom at night), you know what I'm talking about. The tiniest pet will suddenly be able to take up the entire bed. Leaving the humans a sliver of space, a strip of covers, and either fart in your face or breathe directly into your face.<br />
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We should all try to <i>forgive</i> as freely and lovingly as our pets.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-15982102889432746712015-03-22T22:11:00.000-04:002015-03-22T22:13:05.431-04:00CelebrateI really didn't do this on purpose, but without further ado here are pictures of the guest room project. It's time to <i>celebrate</i>! Who wants to be our first guest?<br />
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Here is the room when we had our house guest living here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWszNt4lOlAwQUpYkuEU-TXP-fKCaQWq76K8GtxwO1kohur4efYLLB9Ttz1c4HMPE9Y4NMJzMqvShElWNpEpfZtaP6A2f5n-GuKklnoxLp90UbwhMfyemntkd2YLKgrA9U-HLBj2dPPy_2/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWszNt4lOlAwQUpYkuEU-TXP-fKCaQWq76K8GtxwO1kohur4efYLLB9Ttz1c4HMPE9Y4NMJzMqvShElWNpEpfZtaP6A2f5n-GuKklnoxLp90UbwhMfyemntkd2YLKgrA9U-HLBj2dPPy_2/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, Greg moved out and before we moved furniture back in, we started the great remodel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_fvo2-WFXOMnL-x7keBZOtn9o3UvQDF4ZsJpy_XWpYjq8Jgl-rOeRwUn6bHmTZX_EmRDwIzZitsyFztWyacDsm-QArqJdkmf1FkTUl0nKzSXWV8rKssvpy6tea4Doq5ZBhMSm3xezvEk/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_fvo2-WFXOMnL-x7keBZOtn9o3UvQDF4ZsJpy_XWpYjq8Jgl-rOeRwUn6bHmTZX_EmRDwIzZitsyFztWyacDsm-QArqJdkmf1FkTUl0nKzSXWV8rKssvpy6tea4Doq5ZBhMSm3xezvEk/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had new glass installed in the bottom sashes of the double hung windows. It's double thick glass, so it will be more efficient.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpIREURWIYWvQ_m529_H1G22RjtwvYI5QrIojqPdk58LLQu4pBoQXhQcVFnVw8fXau5MoNnyJabi5BGAsb9RXtbAD8iCRt-9beLV0g2zdl5Nlz3A9bNSFFgBGPxTi8uZBKooaX2Sr1-_-/s1600/IMG_3689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpIREURWIYWvQ_m529_H1G22RjtwvYI5QrIojqPdk58LLQu4pBoQXhQcVFnVw8fXau5MoNnyJabi5BGAsb9RXtbAD8iCRt-9beLV0g2zdl5Nlz3A9bNSFFgBGPxTi8uZBKooaX2Sr1-_-/s1600/IMG_3689.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is Bill fixing the weights in the windows.</div>
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We've scraped the paint off the walls. The crown molding still needs to be scraped.</div>
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I guess I never took a picture of the entire room scraped. Or I can't find it in my thousands of photos.</div>
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Nor do I have a picture of the entire room in primer. That's okay, it was all white. You can picture that. The above photo is a painted ceiling and walls. Next, the floors were refinished. Then, we got the window treatments installed. </div>
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We played around with the layout. We thought this might work, but that bookcase was too tall to go under the double double hung windows so we put it at the end of the bed.</div>
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We didn't love it there, so we moved the room around (picture taken from the door).</div>
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In the meantime, Bill was a saint. He painted all of the bookcases and he refinished this table that was from his friend's grandfather. </div>
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And now we have the finished room. Here it is before the furniture was moved in, I wanted you to see the gorgeous floor Bill painstakingly restored all by himself!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-UyPAMBuXKnURXGeY3OaiYAYkvjuXnWLbAG2cgFqVSxELh78H7uHBMfVPzBs5OndawIzljeyogbjE9tFS7_Cstl3pg2iPaOEZVypapuzdGhQKAgSVvEG72olAW2Jh50p08jzMngnQri1/s1600/IMG_4088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-UyPAMBuXKnURXGeY3OaiYAYkvjuXnWLbAG2cgFqVSxELh78H7uHBMfVPzBs5OndawIzljeyogbjE9tFS7_Cstl3pg2iPaOEZVypapuzdGhQKAgSVvEG72olAW2Jh50p08jzMngnQri1/s1600/IMG_4088.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Look at that smooth ceiling. It's beautiful.</div>
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The large bookcase fits right here.</div>
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The table and chair will soon have a lamp (photo from the door).</div>
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We still have pictures to hang, but you can see Juliette has settled right in.</div>
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It's time to<i> celebrate</i>! Who's going to visit?</div>
Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-44166383169884993902015-03-21T22:37:00.000-04:002015-03-21T22:37:37.885-04:00StillI'm going to have to write about the opposite of <i>still. </i>Because I wasn't <i>still</i> all day.<br />
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From the time I woke up this morning, to this moment now, I have not been <i>still</i>.<br />
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I went up and down the stairs doing laundry. It's clean sheet day so I undressed and redressed the bed. I baked a cake for Sunday school. I washed dishes. I made a birthday card for my Grandma (she'll be 94) and a thank you card for a friend. I cleaned up my scrapbooking/card making stuff. Bill and I placed the furniture in the guest room (pictures are coming). We also put all the books on the bookshelves. I cleaned the bathroom and ran the vacuum (upstairs, Bill ran it downstairs). We made and ate dinner (burgers and fries). We went to the Adoption Ministry Hoe-Down at church. I danced.<br />
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And even now I'm not <i>still</i> as I type.<br />
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Did you see the moon tonight? It's not <i>still</i> because it's orbiting around Earth, but it sure looked <i>still </i>when I saw it. It was a giant sliver. That's a good oxymoron.<br />
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I would like to be <i>still</i>. I have practiced that off and on in my adult life. I appreciate being <i>still</i>. Maybe that's what I'll do next year for Lent.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-11093279043173060782015-03-20T23:17:00.000-04:002015-03-20T23:17:06.814-04:00PlaceI do not look at the words (and remember them) ahead of time. So when I sit down to blog and I see the word I'm going to write about, many things go through my head.<br />
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But I have to sort through them and decide what I can make sense out of and what needs to be discarded.<br />
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I have gotten back out and have been running/walking this week. The temperatures are warmer and the snow has melted (mostly) off the sidewalks. As Bill starts his new job, and I can convince him to go with me, we'll start walking regularly. I'm not sure what regularly will look like. I would still like to run three times a week. If I can get him to walk three times a week, I would make that work.<br />
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I digress, while I've been running I have time to think. I've thought of many things to write about, but so far none of them have had to do with <i>place</i>.<br />
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I could talk about where the cats' <i>place</i> in our bed is; right in between us or on top of us.<br />
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But alas, I just took a long time checking my email and now it's too late to write any more.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-70707358214064050832015-03-19T21:33:00.000-04:002015-03-19T21:33:13.944-04:00LightTomorrow marks the first day of spring. It will occur at 6:45pm (EST). I don't know how the Almanac figures that out, but that's what the <a href="http://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-spring-vernal-equinox" target="_blank">website</a> says.<br />
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There will be equal parts day to night. Or dark to <i>light</i>.<br />
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Days will be longer. The sun will continue to warm us with her <i>light</i>.<br />
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We will need to adjust the lights in our home that are on timers.<br />
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I hope that through my blog I am sharing a little bit of <i>light</i>. Which I hope is then shared by you, which is then shared by others.<br />
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I saw darkness tonight and I object!<br />
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Where is the <i>light</i>? Where is the hope? Where is the love?<br />
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I know we're all human and some days are just not good days, but we have to try. We have to reach for the <i>light</i>.<br />
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When I catch myself driving with a scowl on my face, I start looking at other drivers (which is easy driving in the city, not so easy driving in the suburbs, or the country, or the highway) and I look at their expressions. It often makes me smile, if not laugh a little. I can't help it, I like to smile.<br />
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Share the <i>light</i>!Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-87761725927662464092015-03-18T22:17:00.001-04:002015-03-18T22:17:40.126-04:00BelieveI <i>believe</i> I can make it through Lent, blogging everyday.<br />
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I <i>believe</i> that I will be able to run 2.5 miles again without stopping.<br />
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I <i>believe</i> in Hope.<br />
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I <i>believe</i> that <i>believe</i> is one of those words that stops looking like the word after you type it a few times.<br />
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I <i>believe </i>that Atticus will eventually kill all the mice living in our house. (Seriously, how many can be left?)<br />
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I <i>believe </i>in Faith.<br />
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I <i>believe </i>that God answers prayers.<br />
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I <i>believe</i> that Bill and I will finish the guest room this weekend.<br />
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I <i>believe</i> that Love wins.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-87260977823500265772015-03-17T21:21:00.000-04:002015-03-17T21:21:06.175-04:00EndureLast night, I made stuffed cabbage rolls for our St. Patrick's dinner tonight.<br />
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It was quite an involved process. And before you are disgusted by the thought of cabbage rolls, they were stuffed with bratwurst and covered in a spicy bacon, tomato sauce.<br />
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Bacon makes everything taste better.<br />
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I cooked the bratwurst in the morning with the rice. Then, after work, I steamed the cabbage. While it steamed I cooked the bacon, onion, red pepper, and simmered those all in tomato puree.<br />
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After the sauce was ready, and the cabbage had drained, I took the bratwurst and rice mixture out of the fridge and started stuffing the cabbage leaves.<br />
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As if all of that wasn't involved enough, the next part got more so.<br />
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The recipe instructed me to cut the main vein out of the leaf, scoop one-third of a cup of the bratwurst/rice mixture into the leaf, and then roll it like a burrito. Except that I just cut out part of the leaf and rolling it as suggested was next to impossible. No matter which way I rolled, stuffing kept falling out through slits. Or I was rolling it in such a way that the stuffing to rolled cabbage ratio was uneven.<br />
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But I knew I could <i>endure</i>. I continued stuffing and rolling. I eventually filled my 9 x 13 baking dish with ten rolls. I covered them with the sauce and tucked them away in the refrigerator until this afternoon when Bill took them out for me.<br />
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We were also able to <i>endure</i> the forty-five minute wait while they baked.<br />
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Bill and I agreed that the cabbage rolls were worth the process.<br />
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Happy St. Patrick's Day!Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-34063287240781913962015-03-16T21:52:00.001-04:002015-03-16T21:52:56.859-04:00WildernessI'm having a difficult time trying to think of something to write about in regards to <i>wilderness</i>.<br />
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I could talk about the summers I spent at camp where I hiked through the <i>wilderness</i>. I saw God there, but truly it was more in nature than <i>wilderness</i>.<br />
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We live in an small urban jungle. Sometimes going to work is like being in the <i>wilderness</i>. In the wild you fight rushing waters, and wild animals only to be beat down. At work you fight deadlines and multi-tasking only to be worn out.<br />
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Temptations find us in the <i>wilderness</i>. We found out what we're really made of.<br />
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Clearly, I have not overcome using prepositions at the end of my sentences. My <i>wilderness</i> is climbing through words and language only to fail.<br />
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But I will push on, just keep swimming, and not give up.<br />
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Ha, I had to end with that one.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-35757581672784227662015-03-15T22:02:00.000-04:002015-03-15T22:02:38.339-04:00CelebrateThere are things happening around us (Bill and me) that may not give us reason to <i>celebrate</i>.<br />
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My grandmother had a TIA last Friday and is still in the hospital.<br />
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Atticus brought a half-dead mouse into our bedroom last night.<br />
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I did not get a good night's sleep after that.<br />
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Bill's car is still in the shop and will hopefully be ready by the end of this week (if the part they need to fix it arrives).<br />
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However, there are things to <i>celebrate</i>.<br />
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My grandmother will be turning 94 this month.<br />
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Atticus is a good hunter and Bill is amazing because he removed the half-dead mouse from our bedroom.<br />
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Juliette has been with us for thirteen years on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, we will <i>celebrate</i> my parents' 48th anniversary.<br />
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Bill will start his new job a week from tomorrow.<br />
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We finished the guest room and we are moving in the furniture.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914418754153277845.post-84002919385960057152015-03-14T21:49:00.000-04:002015-03-14T21:49:30.875-04:00SearchToday my <i>search</i> will involve how to work Pi into my post.<br />
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Hm, I guess I just did, so that <i>search</i> is over.<br />
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But my <i>search</i> during Lent is still going.<br />
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What am I searching for?<br />
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I keep asking myself that question. The answer is constantly changing. I'm searching for love. I'm searching for answers. I'm searching for guidance. I'm searching for truth. I'm searching for acceptance.<br />
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I will <i>search</i> for these things in my friends, family, neighbors, and strangers.<br />
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The <i>search</i> will continue past my Lenten journey.Emolyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.com0